I've written before about my yearning for a copy of Simplicity's out-of-print Lisette Portfolio dress sewing pattern and tweeted about this again recently having seem a shockingly priced one on eBay. Kerry of Sew Ichigo and Very Kerry Berry got in touch and kindly offered to send me her own used copy of the Portfolio pattern. I am most thankful and touched by her generosity. What better way to start my sewing year?
The Lisette Portfolio is the original version of Liesl + Co's Cappuccino– a dress I've now sewn four times (three of them blogged), so was convinced the design would work for me. There are a few minor differences between the two sewing patterns, the main one being that the Portfolio has a more demure high scoop neckline.
I'd heard that sewing the centre front square panel could be tricky, but I actually found it easier to make than the Cappuccino's V-neck. As before, I cut the dress as a size 10 for the top half, graduating out to a 14 at the hips. It has a centre back seam, so I shaped this a little more so that it wasn't baggy at the waist. I cut the back facing in one piece (instead of adding a back closure) as the dress fits easily over my head. It's a roomy A-line design and is exactly the style I feel most comfortable wearing.
The fabric I used is deliciously soft floral pin cord made by Japanese company Sevenberry (Christmas money well spent at Eternal Maker). The main body of the dress is in Flower Garden print and the yoke and cuffs are in Daisy Floral. The two fabrics clash perfectly to my taste! I love the finished dress – the corduroy is great for these colder days. There will definitely be more Portfolios this year.
